Improvement in apparatus for storing and discharging naphtha



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1 1 6 4 2 3 B JUN 27 1871 4 24220 6014, ora/nil M WITNESSEW UNITED STATES THEOBALD FORSTALL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR STORING AND DISCHARGING NAPHTHA, 846.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 116,423, dated June 27, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEOBALD FORSTALL, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Storing Naphtha and other volatile hydrocarbons, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to securely store naphtha and other volatile hydrocarbons, and at the same time to provide a means by which the liquid may be readily stored or discharged. To this end I employ a holder or inverted bell, like an ordinary gas-holder, in which the naphtha is stored over water, the exterior of the holder, both on the top and sides, being surrounded by water, so that the volatile hydrocarbon stored within the holder may be protected on all sides by water, and this water I employ, substantially in the manner hereinafter described, to equilibrate the holder and effect the storing or discharge of the hydrocarbon into or from the same.

The manner in which my invention is or may be carried into effect will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, which represents an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus made in accordance with my invention.

The holder H, of ordinary or suitable construction, is made substantially like an ordinary gasholder, and is placed within the tank T. The holder has a water-seal, the line of the exterior water being represented at w. The level of the water within the holder varies, of course, with the amount of hydrocarbon. contained therein; but at all times there is sufficient to form a water bottom between the hydrocarbon and the bot tom of the holder or tank. Around the top of the holder is riveted a closed reservoir or equilibrium-chamber, G, intended to be filled with water, which serves both to protect the top of the holder and to equilibrate the holder. The sides of the equilibrium-chamber extend down some distance on the sides of the holder, with an annular space, 8, between the two, which serves:

as a water-space. The point of attachment 0 of the chamber to the holder should be far enough down on the sides of the latter to be generally below the water-line 00, so that the naphtha within the holder may be surrounded on all sides and at all points by water. The pipe through which the hydrocarbon both enters and is discharged from the holder is represented at I. A safetyvalve is shown at V, which receives any vapors or gases generated in. the lower chamber or holder, and discharges them. through the bent pipe Vmto the water contained in the upper or equilibrium-chamber. A cock, W, is proyided above the valve, which may be used to let out the air when the holder is loweredin the tank. The tank is provided with the usual overflow, and the chamber C may be provided with any suitable means for supplying it with water or for drawing off the same.

The operation of the apparatus, when naphtha is to be stored in the holder, is as follows: The tank being filled with water to a convenient height above the junction of the holder and chamber 0, benzine or naphtha is pumped in through the pipe I. The exterior level of the water is maintained at :r by an overflow. Druing the inflow of the naphtha the holder would rise proportionally to the difference of specific gravity of the naphtha and water but this tendency to rise is counterbalanced by the introduction of water into the chamber 0, so that the holder remains in equilibrium, or just on the point of rising. The filling with naphtha is continued until it reaches the lower dotted line n, or any desired point, and the water counter-balance is proportionately increased in the chamber 0 until it reaches the line to, for instance. After the naphtha has been stored it can be withdrawn by stopping the tankoverflow and raising the level of the water above the line :10, causing the holder to rise and over flowing the naphtha into the inlet I, from which it may be pumped or the same result may be obtained by removing water from the chamber 0, due regard beinghad to maintaining the holder, as near as the end will allow, in perfect equilibrium; for if the holder be thus maintained it can be constructed of much lighter material. The safety-valve V, opening underneath the water, accommodates any sudden generation of vapor, and the discharge of the vapor into the water at that point would be safe.

The above method presents many advantages, and notably the following: First, the naphtha is entirely surrounded by water, and is cut off from all danger of fire. Second, th emaximum of storage capacity is obtained at a minimum of cost; for the holder, being in equilibrium, can be constructed much lighter than would otherwise be practicable. Third, the introduction and withdrawing of naphtha is performed in a most simple manner, and no admixture or contact of vapor and air is allowed. Fourth, the naphtha, owing to its surrounding jacket of water, is maintained below a vaporizing point constantly, for the evaporation from the surface 10 in the chamber O has a cooling effect upon the roof of the holder.

Having described my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isa. W

1. The method herein described of storingnaphtha or other volatile hydrocarbons in an equilibrated holder surrounded by water, into and from which the hydrocarbon is discharged, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth. 2. The combination of the tank, holder, and closed equilibrium-chamber covering the top of said holder, and extending down upon the sides of the same to a point below the water-line in the tank, substantially as shown and set forth.

3. The combination of the holder, equilibriumchamber, and safety-valve, conducting any vapors generated in the holder into the water counter-balan ce in thechamber, substantially as shown and set forth.

4. An apparatus for storing naphtha and other volatile hydrocarbons, consisting of a holder, inlet and discharge pipe, equilibrium-ch amber, and tank, substantially as described, combined and operating in connection with the water contained in said chamber and tank to effect the entrance and discharge of the hydrocarbon into and from the holder, and to equilibrate the holder, substantially as shown and described.

1n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

THEOBALD FORSTALL.

Witnesses:

A. A. ALFORD, B. S. LEE, Jr. 

